Patriots make QB Tom Brady the highest paid player in NFL history

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady have finalized a four-year contract extension worth $72 million, including $48.5 million guaranteed, according to a source familiar with the deal.

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King first reported the news during halftime of Thursday night’s season opener between Minnesota and New Orleans. King reported that Patriots owner Robert Kraft told him that a 4-year deal has been finalized with the teams franchise quarterback. The news comes at the end of an eventful day for Brady, who was involved in a car accident early this morning on his way to Gillette Stadium for practice.

Additionally, King reported that Brady’s new contract will make him the highest paid player in NFL history, with an average salary of over $19 million per season. Brady was set to enter the final year of a six year contract he signed in 2005, and will reportedly sign the deal tomorrow. This is great news for the Patriots organization which didn’t want the distraction of Brady’s contract looming over them heading into the start of the regular season.